Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-25

the act was q. 2T. and the number Of pensions
actually allowed-2O,4 s1costing, it is report
ed. for the first year. S1,s.7,9oo. instead of tlO,-
"A law was passed in 1853 for the benefit Of
the surviving widows of revolutionary soldiers
who were married after Jan. !. 1900. Il was es-
the passage. of this act, but the number of PEN
sions allowed was s.t12, aud the amount paid
Tor such pensions during the first year Of the
$4,000. as had been estimated. I have made
no search for other illustrations, and the above,
being ut hand. are given Us intending TO show
that cannot be relied upon In such
cases.
If none should be pensioned under this bill
except those utterly unable to work. I an sat
ished that the cost stated in tho estimate re-
ferred to would be many times multiplied, and
with a constant increase from year TO year; and
i Il : th1se y partially Ynsblet to earn their support
the palpnble increase OF expense would be al
most appalling.
war Of the rebellion every Northern state and q
great majority Of Northern counties and cities
were burdened with taxation on account Of tho
large bounties paid our soldiers; and the bond
ed debt thereby created still constitutes Q large
item in the account OF the tax gasherer against
the people. Federal taxation, no loss borne by
upon their properly is, still maintained It the
rate made necessary by the exigenoieA Of war.
II this bill should become a Law. With its ire
am thoroughly convinced that further efforts to
reduce the Federal revenue and restore some
part of it to oar people will and perhaps should
1T has constantly been q cause OF pride and
congratulatien to the American citizen that his
country is>not put TO the charge Of maintaining
a large standing army in time Of peace. Yet
we are now living under q war tax which has
been tolerated in peaceful times to meet the
obligations incurred in wsr. But for years past.
III Oil parts Of the country, the demand for the
reduction of the burdens of taxation upon our
labor aud production has increased In volume
and urgency.
Il AIN not willing to approve q measure pre-
senting the objections to which this bill ia sub
lect, and which, moreover. will have the effect
OF disappointing the expectation OF the people
and their desire End hope for relief from war
taxation in. time Of peace. In my last annusl
message the following language was used:
consideration for those who, having served their
country long and we'll. are reduced to destitu-
tion and dependence. not as an incident of their
ness OF misfortune. We are all tempted by the
contemplation Of such a condition to supply re-
lief. ana are often impatient of the limitations
OF. public duty. Yielding to no one in the desire
to indulge this feeling Of consideration, Icannet
rid myself Of the conviction that II these ex-
soldiers are to be relieved. they and their cause
arc entitled to the benefit of an enactment IN
der which relief may be claimed as q right,
and that such relief should be granted under
the. sanction of law, not in evasion OF it; nor
should such worthy objects Of care. all equally
entitled. be RENTED to thS31nequal operation
and POLITICAL influence. with their UNJUST dis>
criminations.'
lido not think that the objects, the. condf,
lions, and the limitations thus suggested are
contained in the bill under consideration.
I adhere to the sentiments thus heretofore
expressed. But the evil threatened by this
bill is, in my opinion such that. charged.
with u great responsibility in behalf Of
the people, l oan not do otherwise than to
bring to the consideration Of this measure my,
best efforts of thought and Judgment, and PER-
form my constitutional duty in Relation thereto
| f9purdlRRH OF ell C0nSe0NnnCaS. GYC9Nt AuCh IA
est interests OF the country.
"GRovEn CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion. Washington. Feb. II. 1887. n